Library on the environment opens its doors to the public

Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The country's first public library specializing in environmental issues opened on Wednesday with the goal of providing people with greater access to information on the environment.

State Minister for the Environment Nabiel Makarim said the Emil Salim Library would aid efforts to conserve the environment by providing people with vital and necessary information.

"Efforts at mending the current environmental conditions can be sped up if each element of society gains awareness and plays an active role, which requires the availability of information," he said.

Named in honor of the first environmental minister, Emil Salim, branches of the library will also be established in the Bali capital Denpasar, the South Sulawesi capital Makassar and the capital of Riau, Pekanbaru.

A deputy in the Office of the State Minister for the Environment, Masnellyarti Hilman, said Emil was being recognized for his dedicated and endless work for the environment.

Emil heads the Kehati Foundation, a non-governmental organization focused on environmental conservation.

The library has a collection of more than 10,000 books, documents and articles from the media. It also is equipped with an audiovisual room with a collection of more than 500 movies and CDs.

Created with a US$3 million soft loan from the Asian Development Bank, the library also has a mobile library and a website at www.perpustakaan.menlh.go.id.

During the official opening, Emil expressed his appreciation at having the library named after him.

"I am happy because I finally found a place where I can put all the books and theses that have been piling up at my house. My wife grumbles a lot about those books," he said.

Emil became the first minister of the environment in 1978, a position he held for 15 years.